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Sunday, September 18, 2016

A fun filled week!

I am looking forward to my slow stitches today, as I will hopefully finish stitching the binding down on Baltimore Garden. It has been a long week and my anxiety levels were high, as I thought about trimming and squaring up a quilt that I have so much time vested in. So much can go wrong with a rotary cutter in my hand ! But, I decided to just take a deep breath and measure carefully. I guess the care I took squaring up blocks and the border while assembling the quilt paid off. I had very little to trim off of the top and loved how it looked once I gave it that much needed haircut. Over the hump, now to just enjoy the binding process. I know many quilters don't like binding but I love doing the math to figure out what size square I need to make the binding. Cutting the bias binding, pressing the seams open, pressing it in half and then stitching it to the quilt top. It makes such a difference to finally see your quilt bound. What's not to like?

Moving along, I have been wanting a table topper to go on the kitchen table since we moved this summer. I finally decided after seeing Cathy over Sane, Crazy,Crumby Quilting working on her triangle star blocks that I thought that block would be perfect for my table. I think the vibrant colors Cathy is using in her blocks are probably better suited to showing off this block, but the fabrics I chose really look nice in my kitchen. The plaid and muted cream fabric don't have as much contrast as I usually use, but they really worked well in my kitchen. I pulled out some black solid for the background as I believe that every room needs a touch of black. Ok the truth is I am obsessed with black painted furniture. I am still trying to figure out how to break the news to my husband I plan on painting our oak chairs. Anyway back to the table topper, I was really surprised at how well it went together. Of course my seams are not all perfect, I say they are just right. I have it layered and basted and started hand quilting it. Maybe, I can sneak in a few more stitches today.

While I was downloading these photos for the blog, I kind of chuckled at the difference of these two projects. The possibilities are endless and I guess that keeps us moving from one project to the next!

I repainted my dark pine bedroom furniture about ten years ago and have never looked back. I painted the two bar stools we use a few weeks ago. Finished up the binding this afternoon my fingers got a good workout. Can't believe I got is done in two days. LOL Now to work on the trapunto and trailing vines. If I don't prep some leaves this week they will never get sewn on those bare branches

Love your quilt---gorgeous colors and great applique!! You have done a great job. I know what you mean about trimming at the end. Rotary cutters are the bomb, though. I remember only having scissors to trim with and that took forever. I also love the binding part. It makes the quilt!!

Oh I agree they making trimming a dream. I guess after working on this quilt so long and being so close to finishing I was a bit apprehensive. Yeah can't imagine cutting out a whole quilt with just a pair of scissors! Yikes!

Thanks Suzanne! I ran my hand over it again today as I stitched down the binding and I am still in disbelief that I made it. The applique was really really challenging. I love to hand quilt and quilting an appliqued quilt is the best!

My slow stitching today is binding too, but I've got a small project to bind. I love binding; never mind doing it. I love that knowledge that this is the final loving stitches. Your table topper is amazing. Lots of piecing!

I love binding as well! I find it relaxing and rewarding to see the final step. Your quilt is SO beautiful. It makes me want to start one! Love that star for your table as well. I really like the black, grey, taupe, tan, cream thing. Lovely.

Baltimore Garden is, of course, gorgeous but I am also really excited about your table topper. I love the neutrals with black; it looks fantastic. I have often painted furniture but had never thought of black - what a cool idea. My kitchen may just need a makeover!

Thanks! I had fun doing this quick little table topper. So much different from an album quilt. Glad to hear others like painted furniture also. By removing a hutch from a dresser and repainting the dark pine black I revitalized my bedroom furniture into something I could love again. It has been with us for 39 years. I love using flat paint and then once it drys I use Johnson's Paste wax over the paint. It does something spectacular to the paint, can't really explain it but it has a nice glow. I haven't tried it with a light paint yet but I think I might have to.

And I love that table topper in plaid. What a great idea for a table topper. It is surprising how easily those stars go together, isn't it. Painted black furniture???? That must have been a thing with some people in the past too. My husband bought an old antique desk for me years ago and refinished it for me as a surprise. He said the darned oak desk had been painted black!

Yeah I do love me some painted black furniture. Just think if someone hadn't painted that desk your husband wouldn't have had all that fun finding the oak underneath. LOL I was surprised at how easily the star block went together. It looks so much more difficult than it is.

" Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. "

Robert Brault

Slow Stitching Sundays

Shenandoah Botanical Quilt

Scraps and Strings

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I love to enjoy the simple things in life. These include things like watching my garden grow, creating traditional quilts, and enjoying a stroll with my schnauzer Max. I enjoy reading your comments and will try to answer any questions or comments you have.